The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-05-20
THE 1SF1RMARY AID SOCIETY.


work In hand has been formally organized
and has elected Mrs Robert Anderson Presi-
dent Mrs. w. d. NAPLES Vice President,
Miss N. Read Secretary, and Mrs. George j.
Baldwin Treasurer.
A committee of two has been appointed
to visit the institution once every week
until the next meeting, which will be held
4 III June, and similar committee will be
appointed each month thereafter. The
xlhty of the committee is to make thor
hugh examination of the wards and all the
buildings, to see that cleanliness is observed
30 far as it is possible and TO report to the
society what minor things are needed for
the health or comfort of the patients.
N The ladies have also in hand work of
Ton greater value. They are trying to create
apermanent income. They are visiting the
charitable people of the city and asking for
Marty subscriptions, which are not to be
pald this year alone, but for years to come.
Best such 3 proposition might daunt some
Ehose hearts are larger than their purse
&rings are long they ask for the very modest
nm of 81 per year, giving full permission
- all who may desire to give as
Mnch more as they like They have re-
y Gived several cash donations, one of 500
Grsn lady, and the whole amount so far
fcOts up about $500. They have fixed no
unit to the amount they viii raise, but will
Qntinue to receive as long as the citizens of
savannah will contribute. No statement of
Me number of annual subscriptions can vet
made, as the ladies who are asking for
bem viii not report until the June meeting.
THE socIETY's PLANS.
Their first improvement will be the fur
mishing of water from the city supply
IN present a well is used, but it is very de
NIrable to have water connections with the
= t(fy, and pipes can be laid from Anderson
Htfeet to the building for about $780, and
Tie ladies intend to do this work as soon as
Nqssible. The next thing To be undertaken
5 the purchase of a horse and wagon. Be
&inse the colored people will
Not go to the Infirmary un-
they are dangerously sick, the death
n is very heavy, and the cost of the nu-
frous funerals forms no insignificant part
& II the expenses. If a horse and wagon is
rnished it will save a great deal in this
fection, and will be useful and economical
n many other ways. Additions are needed
( M the laundry service and clothes must be
Fnished more abundantly to the
0tients. A night nurse must
duty now is faithful and
Rling, she cannot give the sick ones the at
~btion they need both day and night. The
Mhies have sent to the Infirmary flowers,
& Nzits and provisions, have hung curtains
- the windows, and already have done
0lRny things that tend to alleviate the suf-
& 4ktngs of the patients, They have much
Z "a to do, still they feel that VITA the aid
TIKI citizens will give them, they will be able
11acconplish all they desire in due time
ADDITIONS TO THE BUILDINGS.
After these other matters have been at
ended TO two brick houses viii be built
Naparate from the main building They
viii be used as wards for the incurables
The inf
and it would be of inestimabe benefit if the
acute cases could be separated from the
chronic ones, as the latter are moody and
melancholy and detrimental to convalescent
patients.
All of these improvements must be made
. with money donated, for the income will
not justify any of them The institution is
supported by the city and county. the for
mer giving s., 400 and the latter 81 800 per
nnnum. Sometimes servants are sent there
by their employers, and the InfirmarY re
ceives SOC. per diem for caring for them
but the aggregate amount received from
this source is not more than $50 year. Out
of this amount the Superintendent, steward
two nurses, a cook and laundresS have tc
be paid, so that the salary account cuts
such a large hole in the income that
but small margin is left with which Il
feed, cloth and furnish medicines for tn,
patients, who number from thirty to forty
per day. Some of the colored people
who are unbiased by the antipathN
that most of them have TO TIL
Infirmary, have had a society simila
TO that in operation for sometime Las
December a fair was held, and with tn
proceeds number Of pieces of crocker,
were purchased About two months ag
thirty-six quilts, thirty-six blankets am
some other necessary articles were also pur
chased. These people seem disposed to exer
fbofya m aid fiaa Inf lint
little knot is a small part Of the negro popu
lation.
THE INFIRMARY's HISTORY,
The Georgia Infirmary dates back to 1892
when Thomas f. and Richard f. William
donated tract Of land ON the White Bmf
road TO be used as q site upon which TO bull
home for aged and afflicted negroes !
number of small wooden buildings wer
erected, and the institution prospered unit
the close of the war, when the capture o
the city in 1864 left the organization impov
eIished because of the failure OF the invest
ments from which It's revenue wa
derived. Up TO this time there had beer
plenty Of money for its support, particular
ly as in the days of slavery there were very
few applications for admission, but aftel
the emancipation many of the negroes wer,
left without protection and the loss of tht
IDfirTnaIy was severely felt.
The Georgia Medical Society, the trustees
Of the In1r1nary and the City Council theI
took steps TO Ie-eStablish it, and they vver,
greatly aided by Edward Padelford, Esq
who generously donated 700, STIMULATING
however, that il should all so into brick anC
mortar With that amount and some othe
funds sent in the present structure wa
completed. Some other contributions wer,
invested in securities for the creation of
permanent fund, but the securities depreci
ated in value and many of them were fnall,
sold out, though for several years tn
InfiI1nary was supported with the interss
received from them. Then it becam
necessary TO devise some plan for securing
an assured income and the Council anC
County Commissioners were appealed TO
and We income since that time has beef
only the S.. 400 by the former and th
81 800 by the latter with the small amour
received from pay patients This is tn
history of the Georgia Infirmary and th
charitable ladies who compose the Al,
Society have reached the conclusion that
is time for Savannah 10 take hold of il, am
they call upon the citizens TO aid them ii
their work